Tryptophan Dosage

Because the safest and most effective tryptophan dosage has not yet been established, it is a good idea to follow the directions on the label of your particular tryptophan product. It is also a good idea to look for a supplement that has the "USP" symbol, which means that the supplement contains the right ingredients in the right amounts. However, it is not clear whether any dose of tryptophan supplementation is safe.

 

An Introduction to Tryptophan Dosage

Tryptophan (also known as L-tryptophan) is an amino acid that is sometimes used in dietary supplements. It is important to note that unlike medications (for which the standard doses have been well established), there is less information available for determining the best dose for supplements, including tryptophan.
 

Tryptophan Supplementation Dosing

The best (safest and most effective) doses for tryptophan supplementation have not been clearly established. Studies have used a wide range of doses, too wide to make any recommendations for tryptophan dosing. Because little information is available to guide you in choosing a tryptophan dosage, be sure to follow the directions on your particular supplement.
 
Studies have used high tryptophan doses for insomnia treatment (1000 mg to 2500 mg daily) and premenstrual syndrome treatment (6000 mg per day), while lower doses (300 mg daily, in combination with antidepressants) were used for depression studies. It is not known if these doses are either safe or effective.
 
A safe maximum dose (known as the "tolerable upper intake level" or UL) for tryptophan has not been established, due to the lack of safety information about long-term tryptophan supplementation and due to concerns about serious tryptophan side effects. In other words, it is not clear if any dose of tryptophan supplementation is safe.
 
(Tryptophan Dosage Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;